Pet Safety Guidelines

Christmas Hazards

• Decorations: All manner of holiday decorations, including tinsel, can be tempting playthings for your inquisitive dog or cat. Unfortunately, these items can cause serious health problems in pets, such as choking, internal injury, or even intestinal obstruction. Be mindful about what kind of decorations you set out, and make sure they’re placed where your pet can’t reach them.
• Plants: Popular holiday plants, like evergreens, mistletoe, and Jerusalem cherry can be harmful to dogs and cats. Tree needles can cause internal injury, while drinking the tree water may cause vomiting and diarrhea. Toxicity is a major concern, especially with mistletoe, which can be deadly in rare cases. Fake trees are safer for pet-owning households, and toxic plants should not be used for decoration.
• Electrical cords: With the abundance of lights indoors and outdoors, it’s more important than ever to protect your curious pet from chewing on the cords. Keep cords as short as possible, and inspect them for signs of fraying. Don’t let cords dangle where your pet can reach them or trip over them.
• Candles: Candles can make your home look extra cozy and inviting, but they’re a serious fire hazard. Use artificial candles instead--they create a similar effect, and are completely safe!
• Chocolate: Your pet shouldn’t be eating any chocolate, though the darker the chocolate, the more harmful it is. Keep all sweets out of your pet’s reach, including cakes, candies, cookies, and gum. If your pet does ingest any sweets, you should contact us right away.

Thanksgiving Dangers

Food is the biggest temptation--and the biggest risk for dogs and cats. Be especially careful with these particular foods:

• Turkey bones: Turkey bones splinter easily into sharp fragments, which can get stuck in your pet’s throat or intestine. In addition to choking, bones can also cause injury to the intestine or create a blockage.
• Turkey carcass: Parts of the carcass which may be under-cooked can infect your pet with Salmonella.
• Fatty foods: Meats, gravy, potatoes, and other foods rich in fat can give your pet an upset stomach.
• Baked goods: Baked treats, especially those that are store-bought, might contain xylitol, an ingredient used in sugar-free foods as a sweetener. Xylitol can be deadly if ingested, so call us immediately if you suspect your pet has consumed goods made with xylitol.
• Leftovers in the trash: Some dogs and cats are notorious for getting into the trash. If your pet is one of them, make sure the trashcan lid is secured or immediately remove all filled trash bags to the outdoor garbage bin. Clear tables of any remaining scraps, too.

Halloween Safety Tips

For all its fun, Halloween is also another opportunity for pets to get into trouble. To prevent a health emergency, we recommend:

• Keeping all candy out of reach at all times--not just chocolate, but all sweets. Sugar-heavy foods can upset your pet’s stomach, and don’t forget about xylitol, a potentially deadly sweetener. In addition to the ingredients, candy wrappers, candy sticks, and any plastic parts that come with them can cause choking, obstruction, and internal injury, which can also be life-threatening.
• Keeping any and all decorative lights as far away from your pet as possible--especially if they’re a puppy or kitten. Whether it's chewing on electrical cords or getting too close to candles, be smart about the lighting you use.
• Leaving your pet at home instead of taking them tricking-or-treating.
• Not letting your cat outdoors (if they like to go outdoors) on Halloween night. Cats, especially black cats, have been known to become targets for pranks, and this could put them in danger.
• Making sure that your dog’s ID tags are current and reflect accurate information. It’s not unheard-of for dogs (and cats) to go missing on Halloween, with front doors being opened and closed and so many people milling about in the neighborhood. We also suggest having your pet microchipped, which can give them a better chance of being found if they do go missing.
• Some pets tolerate costumes well, while others do not. If your pet is in the latter camp, we’d recommend foregoing the costume altogether. On the other hand, if they tolerate it, make sure to keep an eye on them and see that they don’t chew on it and potentially ingest any small, dangerous parts. Try finding a costume that doesn’t have any small, easy-to-remove pieces.